A paradox forces you to think.

A paradox forces you to investigate.

And sometimes, a paradox can make you laugh.

Paradoxes are one of those techniques in literature (like puns or irony) that make your writing a lot more interesting. So, this is what makes a paradox great. I’ll toss out an example, and I’ll explain on it.

I read a book with only pictures, and it had great content.

Okay. Its not the best paradox in the world, but it’ll do. I’m pretty sure its impossible to read a book with only pictures. You look at a book with only pictures. And it had great content is a subordinate clause after. Now that we dissected the parts of it, we’ll have to know what it means. The point of a paradox is supposed to not make sense in the first place, but if you think about it, it does have some meaning. So, with that being said, it is impossible to read a picture. But, the pictures may have some captions, and there may also be a title. So, he/she did read a book with only pictures. I’ll toss out another one.

Don’t go near the water, unless you know how to swim.

Now, this makes no sense. The only way to know how to swim is to go in the water!

“That’s kinda unfair, because I will never be able to swim!”

But, its a paradox. It has a hidden meaning.

“Really? Awesome!”

So, we need to know the hidden meaning.  Ah, I know, it just says that you shouldn’t go in the water because its so deep. Or, you shouldn’t do anything reckless in the water, because you don’t know how to swim. I’ll give you some more examples.

No one goes to that restaurant anymore; its too crowded.

I always lie.

Wait a minute! There is no hidden answer! Hmm… Sometimes, paradoxes are impossible to solve, because there is only one part. So nothing counteracts it, it counteracts itself! Avoid these paradoxes, they are too confusing.

Thanks! Remember to add some feedback.

Thomas Vladenhawk